Gold And Gold Stocks Stop Short Of Bull Market

 | Mar 05, 2019 01:31PM ET

The recent rally showed quite a bit of promise.

Gold stocks surged past their long-term moving averages while breadth indicators surpassed all prior bear-market peaks (excluding 2016), 71% of the HUI and 81% of GDXJ closed above the 200-day moving average.

GDX and GDXJ looked to be on their way to $25 and $37, with gold approaching $1360/oz and those breadth figures on the way to hitting 90%.

However, the stock market rebound pushed past its initial resistance and precious metals reversed course yet again before hitting those targets.

Other than 1985-1987 there has never been a bull market in precious metals without their simultaneous out-performance of the stock market.

Gold stocks, and gold especially, have trended lower against the stock market since the end of December. The price action suggests this relative weakness should continue over the days and weeks ahead. If the ratios in the chart below lose the 200-day moving average then the next strong support becomes the 2018 autumn lows.